Jesus is crucified

Consummatum est. JJ Tissot. Brooklyn Museum.

Our Lenten meditations continue with posts taken from a Simple Exposition of the Circumstances of the Passion of Jesus Christ (1761) by Saint Alphonsus de Liguori.

I have inserted references in the text to numbered footnotes. These references are not hyperlinked but may be found by scrolling to the end of the relevant paragraph.

Totus tuus ego sum et omnia mea tua sunt. Tecum tutus semper sum.
Ad Jesum per Mariam.

This grace I ask of thee to-day: obtain for me a continual remembrance of the passion of Jesus, and of thine also, and a tender devotion to them.

Jesus is crucified

They gave Him to drink wine mixed with gall. JJ Tissot.

As soon as Jesus arrived on Calvary, oppressed with pain and fatigue, they gave him to drink wine mixed with gall, which was ordinarily given to persons condemned to the death of the cross, in order to diminish their sensibility to pain. But because Jesus wished to die without comfort, he tasted, but would not drink it. And they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall. And when he had tasted, he would not drink. [1] The people therefore formed a circle round Jesus; the soldiers took off his garments, which, because they were fastened to his wounded and mangled body, took with them pieces of flesh.

[1] [34] And they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall. And when he had tasted, he would not drink.
Et dederunt ei vinum bibere cum felle mistum. Et cum gustasset, noluit bibere [Matt 27]

They then threw him on the cross. Jesus stretched out his sacred hands, offered to the Eternal Father the great sacrifice of himself, and prayed him to accept it for our salvation. 

The first nail. JJ Tissot. Brooklyn Museum.

Behold they took the nails and hammers, and piercing the hands and feet of the Saviour, they fastened him to the cross. The noise of the hammers resounded through the mountains, and was heard by Mary, who followed her Son, and had already arrived at the place of execution. 

O sacred hands, which by your touch have healed so many invalids, why are you now pierced on this cross?

The nail driven into the feet. JJ Tissot. Brooklyn Museum.

O sacred feet, so often wearied in seeking after lost sheep, why are you now transfixed with nails? Why do you suffer so intense a pain? When a nerve is punctured, the pain is so acute that it causes the swoons and spasms of death. 

How great, then, must have been the pain which Jesus suffered when his hands and feet—parts of the body which are full of bones and nerves—were pierced with the nails?

The elevation of the cross. JJ Tissot. Brooklyn Museum.

O my sweet Saviour, how dearly has my salvation, and Thy desire of gaining the love of me, a miserable worm, cost Thee! And I have so often ungratefully refused Thee my love, and have turned my back upon Thee.  

Behold the cross is raised along with Jesus Christ who is fastened to it, and is let fall with violence into the hole prepared for it.

Between two thieves. JJ Tissot. Brooklyn Museum.

It is then made fast in its place, and Jesus nailed, to it, hangs between two thieves, there to leave his life. They crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side, and Jesus in the midst. [2]

This Isaias had foretold: He was reputed with the wicked.[3] To the cross was affixed a paper, on which was written: Jesus of Naazreth, King of the Jews. The priests wanted Pilate to change the title, but he refused. God wished that all should know that the Jews put to death their true King and Messiah, whom they themselves had so long expected and sighed for. 

Jesus on the cross!

Behold the proof of the love of a God. Behold the last appearance of the incarnate Word on earth. The first was in a stable: the last is on a cross: both display his love and infinite charity for men. Contemplating one day the love of Jesus in dying for us, St. Francis of Paul, wrapt in ecstasy and raised in the air, exclaimed three times, in a loud voice: “O God, charity! O God, charity! O God, charity!”

[2] [18] Where they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side, and Jesus in the midst.
ubi crucifixerunt eum, et cum eo alios duos hinc et hinc, medium autem Jesum. [John 19]

[3] [12] Therefore will I distribute to him very many, and he shall divide the spoils of the strong, because he hath delivered his soul unto death, and was reputed with the wicked: and he hath borne the sins of many, and hath prayed for the transgressors.
Ideo dispertiam ei plurimos, et fortium dividet spolia, pro eo quod tradidit in mortem animam suam, et cum sceleratis reputatus est, et ipse peccata multorum tulit, et pro transgressoribus rogavit. [Isai 53]

By these exclamations the Lord wished, through the saint, to teach us that we shall never be able to comprehend the infinite love which this God has shown us in condescending to suffer such torments, and to die for our salvation. My soul, approach with an humbled and penitent heart that cross; kiss the altar on which thy loving Lord dies. Place thyself under his feet, that his divine blood may flow upon thee, and say to the Eternal Father (but in a sense different from that which the Jews intended). His blood be upon us.[4] O Lord, may this blood descend on us, and wash us from our sins: this blood does not demand vengeance from Thee, as did the blood of Abel, but implores of Thee for us mercy and pardon. This Thy Apostle encourages us to hope for, saying, You are come to Jesus, the Mediator of the New Testament, and to the sprinkling of blood, which speaketh better than that of Abel. [5]

[4] [25] And the whole people answering, said: His blood be upon us and our children.
Et respondens universus populus, dixit : Sanguis ejus super nos, et super filios nostros. [Matt 27]
[5] [24] And to Jesus the mediator of the new testament, and to the sprinkling of blood which speaketh better than that of Abel.
et testamenti novi mediatorem Jesum, et sanguinis aspersionem melius loquentem quam Abel. [Heb 12]

Hence from the cross Jesus seeks not so much our compassion as our love. And if he seeks pity, he asks it only that it may induce us to love him. He merits our love on account of his own goodness; but, on the cross he appears to ask us to love him at least through compassion. Ah, my Jesus, Thou hadst just reason to say, before the time of Thy Passion, that, when Thou shouldst be exalted on the cross, Thou wouldst draw all our hearts to Thee. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to myself. [6] Oh, what darts of fire didst Thou cast at our hearts from this throne of love! Oh, how many happy souls hast Thou drawn to Thee from this cross, and rescued from the jaws of hell? Permit me, then, to say to Thee: Justly, O my Lord, have they caused Thee to die between two thieves, since by Thy love Thou hast snatched from Lucifer so many Christians who justly belonged to him on account of their sins. One of these I hope to be. O wounds of my Jesus, O blessed furnaces of love! receive me, that I may burn not in the fire of hell, as I have deserved, but with the holy flames of love for that God who has condescended to die consumed by torments for my salvation.

[6] [32] And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to myself.
Et ego, si exaltatus fuero a terra, omnia traham ad meipsum. [John 12]

After the crucifixion of Jesus, the executioners cast lots for his garments, thus verifying the prediction of David: They parted my garments amongst them, and upon my venture they cast lots. [7] They then sat down waiting for his death. My soul, do thou also sit at the foot of the cross, and under its saving shadow repose during thy whole life, that with the sacred spouse thou mayest be able to say, I sat down under his shadow whom I desired. [8] Oh! how delightful the repose which the souls that love God enjoy amid the tumults of the world, the temptations of hell, and the terrors of the divine judgments at the sight of Jesus crucified! 

[7] [19] They parted my garments amongst them; and upon my vesture they cast lots.
Diviserunt sibi vestimenta mea, et super vestem meam miserunt sortem. [Ps 21]

[8] [3] As the apple tree among the trees of the woods, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow, whom I desired: and his fruit was sweet to my palate.
SPONSA. Sicut malus inter ligna silvarum, sic dilectus meus inter filios. Sub umbra illius quem desideraveram sedi, et fructus ejus dulcis gutturi meo. [Cant 2]

Insults, mockery and blasphemy. JJ Tissot. Brooklyn Museum.

In the midst of his bodily pains, and the desolation and sadness of his soul, our dying Jesus looked for some one who would console him. But, my Redeemer, there is no one to comfort Thee. Perhaps there are at least some to pity Thee, and weep at the sight of Thy bitter agony.

But, alas! I hear some insult Thee, others mock Thee, and others blaspheme Thee. One says, If Thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. [9] Another, Vah! Thou that destroyest the temple of God . . . save thyself. [9] Others say, He saved others; himself he cannot save. [10]

O God, what criminal has been ever loaded with so many insults and reproaches while he was dying on a gibbet?

[9] [40] And saying: Vah, thou that destroyest the temple of God, and in three days dost rebuild it: save thy own self: if thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
et dicentes : Vah qui destruis templum Dei, et in triduo illud reaedificas : salva temetipsum : si Filius Dei es, descende de cruce. [Matt 27]
[10] [42] He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the king of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
Alios salvos fecit, seipsum non potest salvum facere : si rex Israel est, descendat nunc de cruce, et credimus ei :  [Matt 27]